Chill until set: Cover each glass dish with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if you can. This helps the bars firm up enough to slice neatly and lets the flavors come together.
Slice and serve: When ready to serve, run a knife around the edges of each dish to loosen the bars. Cut each pan into 12 squares (3 by 4) for a total of 24 bars. Use a small spatula to lift them out, wiping the spatula between cuts if you want especially tidy slices.
A sliced cherry cheesecake bar being lifted from the dish
A sliced cherry cheesecake bar being lifted from the dish
Store leftovers: Cover any leftover bars and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. They’re delicious straight from the fridge, and they make an easy make-ahead dessert for busy school nights or weekend company.
Variations & Tips
For picky eaters or kids who don’t love cherries, you can easily swap the cherry pie filling for blueberry, strawberry, or even apple pie filling—just keep the amounts the same.
If you want a little more texture, you can press a simple base into the bottom of each glass dish before adding the cheesecake mixture: crush about 3 cups of graham crackers or vanilla wafers, mix with 1/2 cup melted butter, and press it firmly into the bottom of the pans, then proceed with the recipe as written.
For a lighter version, you can use reduced-fat cream cheese and a light cheesecake pie filling; the texture will be a bit softer, but still very tasty. If you have a family member who likes things less sweet, serve their bar with a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt on the side to balance the sweetness.
Cherry cheesecake bars served with berries and coffee
Cherry cheesecake bars served with berries and coffee
To make it feel extra special for holidays, add a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips or shaved chocolate on top of the cherries, or swirl the cherry layer lightly into the cheesecake layer with a knife before chilling for a marbled look. And if your crew likes to help in the kitchen, let kids be in charge of spreading the cherries and decorating the tops—when they help make dessert, they’re usually more excited to eat it together at the table.
